Dynamics: ANM 302 – Week 3

Life is dynamic, or so they say. Who are “they” anyway, and why do they keep coming up with these pithy sayings? That question will have to wait. Right now we're going to talk Dynamics. I was about to say, not the kind of mathematical dynamics used in engineering which I flunked out of in college, but I would be wrong. It is that kind of dynamics. When you take and place a series of objects in a situation where one or more forces it applied and the objects interact, then you have dynamics. This is precisely the when I'm talking about in 3D animation. Dynamics allows you to set up a simulation (there's that wonderful word again) where you can have those nicely modeled object you built interact with one and other – as opposed to just having then pass harmlessly through each other, clipping away as they go. So, what was my introduction to this new wonder:  the classic physics collision, billiard balls. I have to tell you, it was a riot! Setting the balls up on the table, getting them some gravity, then “striking” them with a pool cue (an initial impulse) and watching them bounce around and smash into each other on the table was great. You'll note in my sample video above that I even broke the balls with too much force, sending one of they flying off the table. Cooler still in the one ball that is struck at such an incidental angle that it keeps on spinning to the end of the clip. All this from just a few clicks of the mouse. Stunning! I look forward to continuing with dynamics as we attempt to produce some realistic looking rain. I'll let you know how that works out next week. Until then, stay tuned...